Scientific Name
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida f. cristata hort.
Accepted Scientific Name
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida Borg
Synonym(s)
Opuntia microdasys f. monstruosa, Opuntia microdasys var. pallida f. undulata
Scientific Classification
Family: Cactaceae
Subfamily: Opuntioideae
Tribe: Opuntieae
Genus: Opuntia
Origin
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida f. cristata is a form of Opuntia microdasys var. pallida with mutated growth.
Description
Opuntia microdasys var. pallida f. cristata is a clump-forming cactus with unusual, green, wavy pads adorned with bright yellow glochids arranged in dense clusters. It can grow up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. The distinctively shaped pads can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length.
The flowers are yellow, appear in spring, and can reach up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
A spot near a south-facing, unobstructed window will likely meet Bunny Ears Cactus' need for bright, direct sun. Windows with western or eastern exposure run as the second and third choices. While an actively growing Bunny Ears Cactus tolerates indoor summer temperatures as high as 100 °F (38 °C), don't expect it to flower unless you also provide winter temperatures between 45 and 55 °F (7 and 13 °C). Regardless of the season, it likes humidity in the 10 to 30 percent range. Finally, if none of your windows provide adequate light, place the plant 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) below a cool white fluorescent tube for 14 to 16 hours daily.
The potting soil must drain quickly. Use a commercial cactus potting mix or mix your own. The best container for your cactus is a clay pot, just slightly larger and deeper than the plant's root system. It must have drainage holes because a pot without them or a pot that's too large could make proper watering impossible.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Opuntia.
Links
- Back to genus Opuntia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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